Tecno Camon 20 Pro’s variant, Mr Doodle, was launched in the Kenyan market shortly after the main series’ release in May this year.
The edition is inspired by the works of renowned artist Mr Doodle and shares many similarities in specifications and design with the regular releases.
The playful doodle artwork is especially revealed on the textured back panel when hit by light at different angles. The default wallpaper on the screen when the device is on also shows the doodles which will resonate with abstract art enthusiasts.
We got a chance to use the device and have prepared the following review for you.
Out of the box
The Tecno Camon 20 Mr Doodle edition comes packaged in a box covered in doodles on the front, top, bottom, left and right sides. The back of the box is a plain white save for a sticker containing product specifications printed on it.
Inside, the device is the first item out of the box. It is wrapped in a sleeve which also has a summary of specifications printed on it. It sits on a moulded partition that on removal, reveals the clear protective case underneath. Under that is a safety guide and quick start guide for setup and safe use of the device. Underneath those are the 33-watt fast-charging power brick and a box containing the USB A to USB Type-C charging cable, a pair of headphones, and the SIM key.
Specifications
Network: 2G/3G/4G
Dimensions: 6.43 x 3.02 x 0.32 inches
SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual standby)
Screen: 6.67 inch AMOLED
Operating system: Android 13, HIOS 13
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G99
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU: Mali-G57 MC2
Internal storage: 256 GB
RAM: 8 GB + 8 GB UFS 2.2
Main camera: Triple Camera setup
64 Megapixel (wide)
2 Megapixel (macro)
2 Megapixel (depth)
Selfie camera: Single, 32 Megapixel (wide)
Battery: Li-Po 5000mAh, non-removable battery
Exterior and Dimensions
The Mr Doodle iteration of the Tecno Camon 20 shares a platform with the rest of the line and hence has similar dimensions to the rest of the series.
It measures 6.43 inches on its longest sides, 3.02 inches on its widest sides and is 0.32 inches thick. There is a general comfort to using it in one hand or in both. With a weight in the 200-gram region, it also isn’t a heavy device.
The Doodle edition has an AMOLED glass front, a high gloss plastic frame and a glass back. It generally handles well in that it isn’t slippery and isn’t a fingerprint magnet. The clear protective case it comes with gives that added layer of peace of mind that it has some level of protection against superficial damage.
The device has your standard monolithic glass screen. The selfie camera is housed under the glass, similar to the fingerprint sensor. The joint at the top edge of the screen where it meets the frame is where the earpiece is found. The earpiece is a minimalist barely visible but has great sound for phone calls.
The top edge of the frame has a secondary speaker for that surround sound.
The left edge has the dual nano-SIM and MicroSDXC card slot for storage expansion.
On the bottom edge of the frame, you will find your 3.5 mm jack port, microphone, USB Type-C charging port and primary speaker.
The right edge has the volume rocker and power button that are near-flash to the surface of the edge. The short travel between pressing and execution means the buttons stay sturdy and have a long life.
The glass back of the Mr Doodle edition Tecno Camon 20 has a matte finish preventing an accumulation of fingerprints.
Three separate bumps on the back of the device contain three lenses and a quad-ring flashlight all clustered towards the top left side at the back.
Worth mentioning as well is that the back panel has a light grey colour under normal light, but will glow in the dark.
Screen and Camera
The screen measures 6.67 inches diagonally giving great viewing real estate for media playback, browsing and gaming. A peak refresh rate of 120Hz further enhances the visual experience the Doodle edition has on offer. When less refined viewing is required the base refresh rate of 60Hz suffices.
A 1080 pixels by 2400 pixels resolution gives the Doodle edition Camon 20 crisp images and footage, and this coupled with the 20:9 aspect ratio gives off that cinematic feel, especially with media playback.
The viewing fun doesn’t stop there. The Camon 20 Doodle edition has a 395 pixel-per-inch density to boot which gives vivid colour and detail on screen.
The front-facing camera is a 32-megapixel snapper with a wide angle that gives a great composition. It also records footage at 1080 progressive scans, at up to 30 frames per second. This guarantees that you’ll get great footage under most lighting situations.
With regards to photography and videography, the crown jewel in the Doodle edition’s arsenal is the 64-megapixel primary camera which captures great wide-angled compositions, be it for photos or videos.
In tow is a 2-megapixel depth sensor that’s responsible for the bokeh effect where foreground objects are sharp while middle ground and background objects appear progressively blurry.
To aid the Camon 20 Doodle edition in this outcome, the final sensor of the triple camera setup is a 2-megapixel QVGA lens which gives out especially stand-out portrait shots. The device will satiate the appetites of photography enthusiasts with this camera setup and software capabilities.
Performance, Storage and Battery
The Camon 20 Doodle edition comes fitted with a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. It is not top-of-the-line, but it is no slacker either for the price point.
An octa-core processor composed of two Cortex A-76 chips (2.2GHz), and 6 Cortex A-55 chips (2.0 GHz) is responsible for task execution from the simple to the complex.
The Mali G57 MC2 graphics card renders images on the screen and is quite handy when gaming with the device or consuming content on the device for which a great range of visual output is necessary.
Because the Doodle edition Camon 20 has Universal Flash Storage 2.2 (UFS 2.2), its base Random Access Memory (RAM) of 8 GB is further expandable, first by 3 GB, then by 5 GB then by 8 GB for a peak total of 16 GB.
This additional RAM is freed up from its amply allocated Read Only Memory (ROM), of which the phone comes with 256 GB. This is additionally expandable using a MicroSDXC memory card. A user’s penchant for clutter will be encouraged by this device given the amount of storage potential it has.
The Tecno Camon 20 Doodle edition runs on the Android 13 platform and comes with Tecon’s custom skin HiOS currently in its 13th version.
The smartphone is fitted with a non-removable Lithium ion-polymer battery that is rated at 5000 mAh. It is adequate for a range of use of which it can go up to 48 hours on moderate use and still gives a full day of charge with heavy use.
To recharge it, Tecno supplies each unit with a 33-watt fast-charging power brick that gives a full charge in just over an hour on a power outlet. This is especially useful when a quick recharge is needed on the go.
Communication, Connectivity and Sensors
The Tecno Camon 20 Doodle edition can be fitted with two nano-SIM cards both capable of utilising the device’s 2G, 3G and 4G network connectivity modules. It additionally has dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth and Near Field Communications (NFC) for secure and reliable data transfer.
Global Positioning System (GPS) integration enables users to access geo-based applications and services such as the use of maps for finding locations. An FM radio module grants users access to broadcast radio with the headphones serving as the antennae to capture the signals.
The Tecno Camon 20 Mr Doodle edition has the USB Type-C port which has On The Go (OTG) functionality which allows the device to act as a flash storage and transfer device for data packets ranging from documents, photos, videos and music files.
With sensors on the device, you have the fingerprint sensor which is under the screen. This secures the Doodle edition Camon 20 from unauthorized access.
There is an electronic compass, a g-sensor (accelerometer) and a gyroscope fitted onto the device. The first is integrated with applications that require directional information to function well. These include maps and cab-hailing applications.
The g-sensor or accelerometer measures the linear motion of the smartphone. It basically looks at the displacement from one point relative to another. It is ideal for fitness applications to function optimally. The gyroscope sensor works closely with the accelerometer to track the orientation of the device. So if a user turns the Camon 20 Doodle edition from portrait to landscape orientation, the content on the display responds in kind courtesy of the gyroscope sensor.
The ambient light and proximity sensor on the device work to optimise the screen’s brightness in different lighting conditions while also turning off the screen in the event that a user has the device held up to the ear for a phone call. This prevents any accidental inputs on the screen during the call.
Our verdict
The Tecno Camon 20 Mr Doodle edition is a definite stunner from its glow-in-the-dark back panel to the sizeable screen.
Its internal workings also make it a device worth considering when looking to replace your current device or add to your collection. All in all, it is a great, well-rounded device that we would highly recommend.
Tecno Camon 20 Mr Doodle edition is available for sale at TECNO’s official retail stores countrywide including its flagship store at Sarit Centre and the variants are priced as follows;
- Camon 20: Ksh 28,499(8+256)
- Camon 20 Pro: Ksh 35,499(8+256)
- Camon 20 Pro 5G: Ksh 44,999(8+256)
- Camon 20 Premier 5G: Ksh 61,999(8+256)